𝒻𝒾ℯ𝓇𝓎 𝓇ℯ𝒹𝒽ℯ𝒶𝒹

Hosea has done practically nothing all day. Nothing but sit on his bed roll, drinking whiskey and staring at his photo from time to time. He avoids contact with pretty much anybody, or at least tries to avoid it. Sharing a tent meant that he had no choice but to let others stop by, but still, he says nothing to them, choosing instead to keep his head down.

He considers drinking himself into a state. Drinking so much that he doesn’t have to feel the heartache that this day brings to him every year. The day he lost her, his Bessie-Though something inside him fights the urge, remembering how bad he had gotten when he allowed himself down that path. He can never do that to himself again. it wasn’t fair on the others and now he is much too old and sick to come out the other side. No, something like that would finish him for sure.

Just as he brings the bottle away from his lips, he feels something gently take his shoulder. His dark eyes shoot upwards, meeting Kathleen’s. He attempts to hold it together, but this compassionate gesture almost makes his eyes spill. Almost. ‘…Oh hello, dear.’ He says, his voice straining and a few chokes slipping out. Part of him wants her to leave, but the other part wants her to stay for just a little while.

His hand moves to her hand that sits on his shoulder and he holds her there for a moment. ‘I’m alright…’ He coughs.’ ‘I’m alright.’

Giving his shoulder a small squeeze. “Hello.” She spoke softly, she could tell by Jim keeping to himself something was wrong, “You know Hosea- if you ever need someone to talk to I’m always here for you.” She begin. “It seems something is troubling you. I hardly ever seen you drink around camp. Is everything alright?” She added softly. Kathleen honestly was worried out of her mind. Hosea was like a father to her. A father she should’ve had. The father she always wanted. “If Micah said something t why upset you I can punch him for you. If you didn’t beat me to it.” Lord if anyone says anything rude to Hosea she’d honestly fight them.

“It’s wanting that gets so many people in trouble…” 

“Ain’t nothing fair. You know that.” 

“My side isn’t chosen. My side was given.” 

“We all need friends.” 

“We die alone, but we live among people.” 

“It isn’t a secret I didn’t get these scars falling over in church.” 

“I’m many things, most of them bad.” 

“People are born, then they’re formed.” 

“People don’t forget. Nothing gets forgiven.” 

“You want me to shoot you in the head?” 

“You’re so crooked you could swallow nails and spit out corkscrews.” 

“It didn’t have to be this way!” 

“I thought you were tough! Stand and fight!” 

“I’ll hunt you to hell and back!” 

“Those sons of bitches would steal a coin off a dead man’s eye.” 

“If you find yourself in a hole, the first thing you do is stop digging.” 

“I’ll give you a bad case of ‘someone just shot me in the head’ if you don’t hurry up.” 

“You’ll be the first to know when I kill you, I promise.” 

“I’ll see what I can do.” 

“If you win power, remember why you wanted it.” 

“Of course, my angel.” 

“Now go. Git.” 

“Though one, aren’t you?” 

“You little beauty.” 

“I hope you got money for a funeral!” 

“I’ve dropped 100 fools like you.” 

“Looks like the good Lord got your ass and face mixed up.” 

“Take my advice and give up on life.” 

“I wasn’t going to hell before, but I am now.” 

“There must be someone here.” 

‘Mind?’ Hosea asks, bringing his hand up to catch his cough. ‘Now why would I mind?’ The older fella rocks back on his heels in thought. Well the day is still young so he sees no harm in going out right this minute. There is only one problem however- ‘We can’t do both at the same time, however. Which would you like to do now?’

Perhaps a little hunting will be best for now. It’s a great skill to use no matter where camp is set up. There are always animals to hunt, whether they are birds, rabbits or even…bears. ‘Maybe we could do a little hunting for now? I can always teach you fishing in the early hours of another morning.’

Needless to say she was excited and a little scared to actually be doing something her own father would go against. “Thank you!” She chirped out, a huge grin on her face. “I never really done anything like that before.” she whispered. “My father alaways said to leave ‘those jobs to the men’.” She mutters softly, “or, ‘its not lady like to do those things.’–” she stops mid rant. “Sorry for the little rant-” she added sending a small smile his way.

Trembling from head to toe, Micah felt cold despite the blanket that had been thrown over him. The man grumbled, pitiful and weak he was in poor condition compared to Kathleen. Who in all her beauty looked healthy and strong.

“Like I just took a dip in a frozen lake. ” His complaint was rough, his voice thick and uneven with a feverish drawl. Micah rolled himself onto his side, which only made his head swim. “I need something to drink. ”

“At times yes. But we all do get annoyed with each other at one point or another.” She stated. Turning her head slightly as she continues, “Susan for example always says how everyone needs to earn their keep and do more work here and there. There’s only so much one can do for the gang around here. Besides Dutch wants everyone to lay low currently. Can’t have the law on us.” The red head adds.

“Besides it’s not like everyone knows how to use a gun around here. Or to do certain things like the others.” She mutters softly. Sure she may not be as good as the other girls in the camp about sewing and such, but in the end she tries.

It was something he wouldn’t be able to understand without effort. Her reasons seem, silly, there would always be another person to replace one that is lost. So many people acted like companionship was a permanent situation, but for Micah it was as temporary as a paper cut. “I’m the sick one, I’m supposed to be delirious.” Micah grunted, taking the bowl from her despite the distrust that twisted his face. “ What’s your excuse little girl?” 

Micah stared at the liquid inside the bowl, searching the swirls for answers to questions he couldn’t think of. “ It’s not like we can’t find another gunslinger or another woman to do the job.” Micah sat there, his blankets wrapped around him loosely. “People are replaceable, best to learn that now before you put more worth then there is on your position in this camp.”

Giving him a look that clearly read she took it offensive. Huffing slightly she glanced away thinking. “Just trying to help I guess. If it wasn’t me it would’ve been Susan and we all know she would forced you to eat those herbs or get slapped.” She stated with a small smirk on her face. “Arthur got slapped for having mud on him. Definitely don’t want to face the wrath of her now do ya?”

“Trust me those herbs will help. Hosea uses them when he gets sick- well helps with his cough. He said it should help with what you got.” She added softly glancing at the bowl. “You are right everyone is replaceable. I may not be the best at sewing stuff together or patching shirts that—” she paused sighing softly. “But in the end all we can do is try Mister Bell.”

Trembling from head to toe, Micah felt cold despite the blanket that had been thrown over him. The man grumbled, pitiful and weak he was in poor condition compared to Kathleen. Who in all her beauty looked healthy and strong.

“Like I just took a dip in a frozen lake. ” His complaint was rough, his voice thick and uneven with a feverish drawl. Micah rolled himself onto his side, which only made his head swim. “I need something to drink. ”

“You need rest.” The woman commented hands going out to his shoulder to attempt at steadying him. “You’re sick.” Kathleen added hand going to his forehead. “Fever too. Stay put! I’m going to get some herbs to help with that. I know Mister Matthews should have some.” She commented eyes darting around camp to find the older man.

“And you certainly don’t need anything alcoholic either. Water or perhaps an herbal tea to that fever of yours dies down.” Perhaps it’s an all natural instinct that kicked in, she knew perhaps the others wouldn’t tend to him being sick- but he’s still a member of the gang- family. “Besides Dutch wouldn’t like you going out like this. You need to at least wait going on scores to the fever dies down. You could hurt yourself worse.” She added walking off to retrieve some herbs from the older male.

Kathleen seemed strangely compassionate. Something that Micah was very unfamiliar with. Her actions made his chest ache, the friendliest doing weird things to his heart. Or maybe it was the fever getting to him? Micah hoped it was, the last thing he needed was the confusion.

He sat up, looking up at Kathleen from where he sat. Micah had taken a liking to the area just beneath a tree. Sunlight shined down from his side, but even then he shivered from chills. The way she smiled made his stomach twist up into a uncomfortable knot. Micah already felt like throwing up, but now it was worst. 

“You’re a member of the gang. Rather others may dislike you or not- we’re like family in a way. In the end we only have the gang at the end.” She commented softly.

“At times yes. But we all do get annoyed with each other at one point or another.” She stated. Turning her head slightly as she continues, “Susan for example always says how everyone needs to earn their keep and do more work here and there. There’s only so much one can do for the gang around here. Besides Dutch wants everyone to lay low currently. Can’t have the law on us.” The red head adds.

Trembling from head to toe, Micah felt cold despite the blanket that had been thrown over him. The man grumbled, pitiful and weak he was in poor condition compared to Kathleen. Who in all her beauty looked healthy and strong.

"Like I just took a dip in a frozen lake. " His complaint was rough, his voice thick and uneven with a feverish drawl. Micah rolled himself onto his side, which only made his head swim. "I need something to drink. "

“You need rest.” The woman commented hands going out to his shoulder to attempt at steadying him. “You’re sick.” Kathleen added hand going to his forehead. “Fever too. Stay put! I’m going to get some herbs to help with that. I know Mister Matthews should have some.” She commented eyes darting around camp to find the older man.

“And you certainly don’t need anything alcoholic either. Water or perhaps an herbal tea to that fever of yours dies down.” Perhaps it’s an all natural instinct that kicked in, she knew perhaps the others wouldn’t tend to him being sick- but he’s still a member of the gang- family. “Besides Dutch wouldn’t like you going out like this. You need to at least wait going on scores to the fever dies down. You could hurt yourself worse.” She added walking off to retrieve some herbs from the older male.

❛❛ hey! i’ve got something for you! wait right here! ❜❜

      “Oh? You really shouldn’t have.” Still, it was always a little exciting to get a surprise, even if there is a sliver of guilt for not returning the gesture - or anticipating it in the first place. 

      “I’m sorry, I didn’t get you anything.”

@sweetwest |